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Manual for Streets 2 (2010)

Manual for Streets 2 “Wider Application of the Principles” was published by the CIHT in September 2010. It does not supersede MfS1 but extends the principles of MfS1 to busier streets and non-trunk roads, thus bridging the gap between MfS and the Design Manual for Road and Bridges (DMRB)..

Key Points

• The strict application of DMRB is rarely appropriate for highways in built-up areas as it mainly focuses on vehicular traffic, whilst more or less ignoring other street users.


• MfS2 encourages designers to use their professional judgement and take into account the local contact, rather than over-relying on strict guidance


• The above should go hand in hand with the hierarchical approach, taking into account the needs of pedestrians and cyclists first in order to promote sustainable travel modes by design


• De-cluttering – the use of street furniture should be well considered and only those elements that serve a clear function should be introduced to minimise visual intrusion and facilitate pedestrian movement


• The amount of road signing and lining should be kept at the necessary minimum, ensuring no detrimental impact on road safety


• Road Safety Audit (RSA) should form part of the overarching Quality Assessment and be accompanied by a Risk Assessment. CIHT Road Safety Audit Guidelines (2008) should be used alongside the DMRB Road Safety Audit guidance.


• The way visibility splays are determined has been revised, and can be now applied to a wider range of situations (although DMRB values are still promoted for roads with recorded / design speeds over 60 kph).  This should allow more leeway when negotiating with Highway Authorities


• Obstacles in visibility splays (namely parked vehicles) do not appear to create significant problems in practice


• It is now considered inappropriate to adopt a design speed of more than 30 mph in areas with a 30 mph speed limit.

For more information or to discuss how JNPGroup can help you, please CONTACT:  

Alan Brackley  BEng CEng FICE FIStructE FCIHT

01494 771221 alan.brackley@jnpgroup.co.uk